Sewing machine attachment for making buttonholes



Oct. 25, 1932. R c DAVlD 1,885,086

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR MAKING BUTTONHOLES Filed Nov; 21, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zfajmond afiavz'a A tiorney R. C. DAVID Oct. 25, 1932.

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR MAKING BUTTONHOLES Filed Nov. 21, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 25, 1932. R, dmvm 1,885,086

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR MAKING BUTTONHOLES Filed NOV. 1 21, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 .Zaymwd 17a vz'ci QMMM Oct. 25, 1932. R. c. DA VlD 1,885,086

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR MAKING BUTTONHOLES Filed Nov. 21, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Q I I A itorney R. C. DAVID Oct. 25; 1932.

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR MAKING BUTTONHOLES Filed Nov. 21, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor jfaymond .2a vz'a By am A ttomey Oct. 25, 1932. c bAVlD 1,885,086

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR MAKING B UTTONHOLES Filed Nov.: 21, 1929- 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Zfaymond .Davz'a v Bya A ttorney R. C. DAVID Oct. 25, 1932.

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR MAKING BUTTONHOLES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 21, 1929 I n venior I/ ///E n T/////////vf/////////// muum Illllilllllllllllllllllllllll [[flmmm III A ttomey Patented. Oct. 1932 "Ramona nAvInjonomiiroN, ivmssAcrrusum'rs v SEWING Mi er-nun TTACHMENTroafivimrirm nurromrorris,

Application filed'Noveinber 21", 1929. Serial No. 408,833,

This invention relates to attachments for sewing machines and more particularly to devices ofthis character which are adapted V I g dQ-V-ICG' with the front wall only'of, the 'caslng to be attached to a conventional typeof machine for the purpose of sewingibuttonholes,

. and has, for one of its purposes, the provision of amachine of this character which will perform all of the operations necessary to attain p pose of clearness. Another object of the nvention is to profating chine laterally. I H Figure 11 isa perspective View 'ofjonefof the camsforming a partof the driveinecha- 6 .a completely sewed buttonhole. vide, in a-manner as hereinafter set forth, a button hole sewing attachmentof the aforementioned character which may be expeditiously adjusted in an'ian'ner to adapt same for operation on buttonholes of varying len ths. i Q

fither objects of the invention 'are to provide a buttonhole sewing'attachment ofthe character described, which will-be simple in construction, strong; durable,- eflicient in its cost.

Other objects and advantages of theEinvention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in con- 'nection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like charactersof reference-desig- V nate corresponding parts throughout thesev- I eral views, andwherem:

hole sewing attachment for'sewing machines constructed in accordance with thisfiiiven- 'tion.' i

Figure 2 is a rear elevational View thereof. FigureSisatopplan view. 7 V

Figure 4 is a bottom plan View thereof.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View lookwherein the front wallof the casing, ,to-

gether with the'ratchet discs has been -removed.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View looking from the front to the rear of the machine and similarto Figure .5 with the exception that thesegmental ratchet plate is mounted f. p p

0f the securing element for" retaining the device in adjusted position when same in place adj acent the cam plate.

therefrom.

w Figure!) is a-vi'ew n sideelevation' 'of the 'driving'mechanism oft-he, device, the ele- Figure 12"is a view inperspective f pawls'which engage the ratchet discs. I 3 Figure 1.3 is a top planfview plate which supports the foot. use, and which may be manufactured atflow I the oscillating .arm which is .pivotally conactuating the same.

or the pawl which is mounted shown in Figure14.

' Figure 1 is a front elevation of a button ratchet'f'discs, and the; masterv cam removed Figure 8 is a vertical-sectional view of the removed therefrom.

mentsjthereof being separated for the pur- Figure 10 is aper'sp'ective View of the aotucans for "shifting the footof the manisni. of the pivotally connected, spring cont-rolled ofthe carrier I. v V p Figure 14 is a View in" perspective of nected at one end to the deviceand adapted for engagement with the sewing machine for I Figure 15 is a detail'view in perspectiveon the lever Figure 16 is an end elevation ofthe cam which is provided with laterally projecting 0 pins for engagement with the pawlfshown "in Figure 15 for rotating said cam;

Figure is a 'detailperspective view' of the supporting shaft "forjthedriving' ele- Inent.

Figure 18 is a'detail view in perspective "of one of the ratchetplates :or discs. ing from the front to the rear thereof and F igure, 19 is-"a detail View in perspective of the connecting rod which fi o l th ratchet discs to thefoot plate;

Figure 20 is a detail view in perspective.

Figure 21 is a detail View inperspectiye has been regulated for work Figure 22 is a detail view in perspective of what will hereinafter be termed the master cam.

Figure 23 is an elevation of the ratchet plates secured .together.

Figure 2 1 is a View in end elevation of the foot plate.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 1 designates generally a casing comprising a front wall 2, an upper wall 3, and a rear wall 4:. An end wall: 5 has mounted on its upper portion a clamping sleeve 6 for attachment to the sewing ma chine, and in which is threaded a set screw 7 for the purpose of securing same.

a er ie l y i s bl m s pi t ly connected, as at 9, to the rear endof the casing 1 on the innerside of the rear wall a. thereof and extends forwardly through a vertical slot between said plate a and end wall 5andextends beyond the front end of said casing and is. provided. at. its free end, with a s parable bifurcated end piece 10, which is detachably secured thereto through the medium of the. securing elements 11. The purpose of the detachable bifurcated end piece 10 is to permit the use of the bar 8 for connection with variously sized hubs of different sewing machines. 2

As seen most clearly in Figures 9 and 7 of the drawings the casing 1 is. provided; with a central web or partition 12-through the central portion ofwhich extends a shaft 13 which is illustrated in detail in Figure 17 of the drawings. The shaft 13. is, provided with. a threaded bore at one end for the reception of a headed retaining screw 14 and intermediate its ends, said shaft isprovided with an annular flange 15 which abuts the forwardface of the partition 12 of the casing.

Rotatably mounted on the rear portion of the shaft 13 adjacent the partition 12 of the casing, is a cam 16, which is. provided with an opening 17 adjacent its marginal edge. This cam is shown in detail in Figure 11 of the drawings. A disc 18. is mounted on the outer portion of the shaft 13 and is coupled to the cam 16 through the medium of a laterally projecting pin 19 which extends into the opening 17 of the said cam.

As seen most clearly in Figure 16 of the drawings, the peripheral edge of the disc 18 is provided with a circumferentially. extending cam groove 20 and the rear face of the disc has mounted thereon an annular series of laterally projecting pins 21. The disc 18 and the cam 16 are retained for rotation on the shaft 13 through the medium of the retaining screw 14. The arm 8 has mounted thereon, an upwardly extending spring controlled pivoted pawl 22 having a notched upper end portion for successively engaging the'pins 21. It will thus beseen that the dice 18, together with the camlfiwhich is coupled thereto through the medium of the pin 19 ex- Leas es tending into the opening 17, will be rotated in a step by step manner when the arm 8 is oscillated in a vertical plane.

The partition 12 of the casing is provided with an opening 23, see Figure 7 of the drawings, and a horizontally disposed transversely extending shaft 24 extends through said opening and is supported at its opposite ends, in the front and rear walls 2 and 1 of said casing. An oscillating double ended pawl 25 is rockingly mounted on the shaft 24 through the medium of a tubular sleeve 26 extending through the intermediate portion of said pawl for the reception of said shaft. The lower end'of the pawl 25 is provided with a rounded head 26 for engagement with the peripheral edge of the cam 16 and ismai-ntained in engagement therewith through the medium, of an integral leaf spring 27 having its freeend' engaged against the rear wall 3 of t e c ng.

Adjacent its upper end, the pawl 25 is provided with a laterally projecting horizontal pin 28 and pivotally. mounted thereon are a pairiof oppositely extending dogs29 and 30;

The'free ends of the dogs 29 and 30 are constantly urged downwardly through the mediumof an arcuate spring 31 which is rigid- 1y secured to one ofsaid dogs, and has its free end in engagement with the other and? is normally of greater curvature than when in position on said dogs.

A cam 32 is rotatablymounted on the flange 15 of the shaft 13 and is provided, at its rear portion, with a horizontally disposed laterally extending shank; 33 which extends through a slot 34 in the wall 2 of the casing and constitutes means for manually rocking'said cam on its. support. Botatably mounted on the shaft 13, adjacent the cam 32 is a segmental ratchet plate35 having a section of its arcuate peripheral edge provided with the ratchet teeth 36 for engagement with the dog 30.

A ratchet disc 37 is rotatably mounted on theshaft 13 in abutting relation to the segmental plate 35 and said disc 37 and the plate 35 are each provided with a series of horizontally alined openings 38. The cam 32 is. provided with an arcuateslot 39 and a pin 10 extends through a pair-of the aligned open- 1' ings. at the forward ends of the series of openings in the ratchet discs and-protrudes into the slot 39 of the cam 32. The disc 37 is provided with ratchet teeth on the portions of its marginaledge which are reversed with respect to the teeth on the segmental plate 35 and are for engagement with the dog 29.

The shaft 13projects centrallythrough an opening 42 in the front wall 2 of the casing and extends outwardly therefrom and is pro-' vided with an annular groove or channel 1-1 ad acent 1ts outer end. As seen in Figurel of the drawings, the wall 2 of the casing is provided withan arcuate series of indicating 'numerals'which are arranged concentrically 3 respect to the opening 42 and indicate the ordinals of the openings 38 consecutively from 2 to 7 An arm 43 is-detachably mounted on the protruding end ofthe shaft 13 and has mounted on its free end a laterally ex, tending pin 44 adapted to be selectively inserted through the alined openings 38 in tie ratchet elements and protrudes into the slot 39 of the cam 32. In this manner, the independent rotation of the ratchet elements on the shaft 13, with respect to, the cam 32 is limited by reason of the pins 40 and 44 engaging the opposite ends of the slot'39. A spring detent (not shown) seats in channel 41 for detachably securing arm 43 on shaft 13;

A laterally shiftable plate 45 is mounted on thebottomof the casing 1 and theflo'ngr tudin'al marginal edges thereof are provided with down-turned dovetailed channel forming portions in which a foot plate 46' is mounted for longitudinal'sliding movement.

A coupling rod 47 is pivotally connected as at48, to the ratchet disc 37 at a point thereof which is free of the adjacent ratchet plate 35 and said rod extends between said disc 37 "and the cam 32.

As seen in Figure 19 of the drawings, the opposite end of the coupling 47 is provided with a laterally extending pin 49 which extends slidably into the slot 50 in the lower end of the wall 2 of the casing for the purpose of supporting that end of the coupling rod.

The coupling rod 47 is also provided at its lower end with a downwardly extending shank 51 whichvprotrudes through an elonthe disc 18 for the purpose of oscillating said lever upon actuation of said disc1 8.

A spring rod or wire'61 has'one end anchored in the base portion 58 of the lever 57 and extends parallel therewith for engagement with a substantially key-shaped bar 62 on the carrier plate 45.

The bar 62 is mounted for reciprocation in the key-hole shaped opening Ain the casing 1 and constitutes means for mounting the carrier plate on the bottom wall B thereof. The.

upper portions'of the bar 62 are removed, as shown in Figure 6 to permit the rotatable elements on. the shaft 13'to pass'and said bar is provided with notches C and D on its opposite sides and at different longitudinal points (see Figure 13) for the reception of the stop "lugs E and F on thec'am 32. The lugs E and F travel in the groove in the casing L I A transverse slot H is provided in the carrier plate 45 and a'headed-scr'e'wl is threaded into the botto'mB ofthe-casing-andqhas its head disposed in the slot for preventing lateral'displacement of the plate from the casing at all times. A spring pressed 'dog- K is pivotally mounted in the casing 1 'forengagement in the recess L'in cam'32 for a purpose tobe presently set forth. The footypl'ate 46 is provided with pairs or rows of gripping teeth 63' at its; forward end and the forward end of said foot plate 'is bifurcated as at64, as seen most clearly in Figure 4 of the drawings.

As illustrated in Figure 24,*these gripping teeth 63, have pointed free ends, formed by providing an outer wall extending at right angles to the foot plate,'withjthe' other side wall inclined.

When the arm 8gis oscillated in-a vertical plane, the spring controlled'pawl 22 success'ively engages the pins 21-on the disc 18 and said disc is thereby rotated in a step-by-step manner. This movement is transmitted to the cam 16 throughthe medium of the pin and hole connections between saidcam and,

the-disc and the oscillating pawl which is engaged with said cam through the medium of the spring 27 is rocked upon the shaft 24. V

Whenthe upper end of the pawl 25 swings downwardly the spring-pressed dog thereon engages the teeth on'the segmental ratchet plate and rotates the same ina clockwise direction a distance ofone tooth at a time. "Being coupled to the ratchet disc 37' through the medium of the pin 40, this movement is transmitted tosaiddisc 37 and as a result,

the foot plate 46 will be moved to its retracted position as shown in the drawings,

through the medium of the connecting rod 47. l/Vhen the pin engagesthe forward end of the slot 39 in the cam-32, said cam will be caused to rotate therewith a very slight distance which movement brings a raised peripheral portion of the cam into engagement gagement with the teeth onthe ratchet'plate 35 and both dogs 29 and 30 are retained elevated out of engagement with their respective ratchet; The dogs are retained in this elevated or neutralposition through a period of the operation of'sewing a buttonhole, after which, the arm 33 is elevated to move the cam 32-and permit at the same time, a low portion of the peripheral edge of the cam to pass the free end of the dog 29-and permit said dogto drop into engagementv with the dog 30 and lifts same out of en-f with the teeth on the ratchet disc 37 and said 9 disc, together with the segmental plate 35 will be thus rotated in an anti-clockwisedirection for shifting the foot plate-46 forwardly.

This reverse movement is continued until the pin 44 engages the opposite end of the slot which will cause the cam 32 to again shift and raise the dog 29. For the purpose of adapting the machine to buttonholes of iii) varying lengths, the distance of the forward and rearward travelling stroke of the foot plate 46 may be regulatedfby placing the pin 44 in any one of the openings 38 and thus varying the distance which the ratchet plates may rotate independently of the cam 32.

7 When the fabric in which the'buttonhole is to be sewed is properly positioned beneath the foot 46 of the device, the arm 33 is raised manually to the upper end of the slot 34 in the casing 1 and the cam 32 is thus moved so that the dog 29 engages the ratchet wheel 37 and the stop lug F on said cam is shifted reaches the reversing point, cam 32 has been moved in an anti-clockwise direction a sufficient distance to withdraw the stop lug F from the notch D and the foot plate is permitted to reciprocate laterally together with the carrier plate for the full distance of the slot H in said carrier plate for forming the bar stitching at that end of the buttonhole, and at least four bar stitches are made before the actual reverse stroke begins, at which time the spring pressed dog K slips over the adjacent corner of the" notch L in the cam 32 and snaps said cam 32 into reverse position, moving the stop lug E thereon into the notch C on the bar 62 for regulating the length and position of the stitches for the other side of the buttonhole on the reverse longitudinal stroke of the foot 46.

. ,l/Vhen the reverse end of the buttonhole is reached the partsare in the position shown in Figure 8 of the drawings wherein the stop lug E has been moved out of the notch C and the dogs 29 and 30 have been lifted off of the ratchet wheels or discs to a neutral or non-operating position, plate 45 is again allowed to move the full length of the bar stitching as long as desired.

l/Vhen it is desired to start the sewing of another buttonhole, the arm 33 is manually lifted to the top of the slot 34 and the foregoing operation is repeated.

It will be apparent that the stroke of the footplate 46 will be shortened by placing the pin 44 through the openings which are nearest the end as this would considerably limit the rotation of the ratchet plates or discs with respect to the cam.

It is believed that the many advantages of a device constructed in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is asiillustrated and described, it is 1. A sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a casing, a work engaging and shifting foot mounted for reciprocation on the casing and" means for actuating said foot comprising an oscillating lever engaged with the machine for actuation, a rotatable disc having a series of laterally projected spaced pins mounted for rotation on the casing, apawl mounted on the lever and adapted to successively engage the pins when the lever is oscillated in a manner to rotate the disc in a step-by-step manner, a cam mounted for rotation on the casing and coupled to the disc, a pair of ratchet elements mounted for rotation in the casing, means actuated by the cam and engageable alternately with the ratchet elements for alternately rotating same in opposite directions and a coupling rod connected to theratchet elements and to the foot. I

2. In a sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a casing, a work engaging and shifting foot mounted for reciprocation on the casing, and means for actuatin said foot comprising an oscillating lever engaged with the machine for actuation, a rotatable disc having a series of laterally projected spaced pins mounted for rotation on the casing, a pawl mounted on the lever and adapted to successively engage the pins when the lever is oscillated in a manner to rotate the disc in a :stepby-step manner, a cam mounted for rotation on the casing and coupled to the disc, a pair of ratchet elements mounted for rotation in the casing, an oscillating pawl mounted on the casing and en gaged with the cam, means mounted. on the pawl for alternately engaging the ratchet elements for rotating same alternately in opposite directions, and a coupling rod connected to the ratchet elements and to the foot.

3. A sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a casing, a work engaging and shifting foot mounted for reciprocation on the casing, and means for actuating said foot comprising an oscillating lever engaged with the machine for actuation, a rotatable disc having a series of laterally projecting spaced pins mounted for rotation on the casing, a pawl pivotally mounted on the lever and adapted to successively engage the pins when the lever is oscillated in a manner to rot-ate the disc in a stepby-step manner, a cam mounted for rotation on the casing and coupled to the disc, a pair of ratchet elements mounted for rota'ticn in the casing, an oscillating pawl mounted on the casing and engagedwith the cam, a pair of dogs pivotally mounted on the oscillating pawl and engageable alternately with the ratchet elements for rotating the same alternately in opposite directions and a coupling rod connected to the ratchetelements and to the foot.

4. A sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a casing, a work engaging and shifting foot mounted for reciprocation on the casing andmeans for actuating said foot comprising an oscillating lever engaged with the sewing machine for actuation thereby, a rotatable disc havinga series of laterally projecting spaced pins mounted for rotation on the casing,"a pawl mounted on the lever and adapted to successively engage the pins when the lever is oscillated in a manner to rotate the disc in a stepby-step manner, a cam mounted for rotation on the casing and Coupled to the disc, a pair of ratchet elements mounted for rotation in the casing, an oscillating pawl mounted on the casing and engaged with the cam, a pair of dogs pivotally mounted on the oscillating pawl and engageable alternately with the ratchet elements for rotating same alternately in opposite directions, a cam rotatably mounted in the casing, and having means for. coaction with means-on-the ratchet elements for rotating the cam, said cam being adapted to engage the dogs in a mannerjto alternately engage and disengage same with the ratchet elements, anda coupling rod connection to the ratchet elements and to the foot.

5. A sewing machine 7 attachment of the character described comprising a casing, a

a work engaging foot plate mounted for lateral and longitudinal reciprocation on the casing,

I a disc mounted for rotationin the casing having a cam groove in its peripheral edg'e, means mounted on the casing and engageable with v the sewing machine for rotating the disc, 7

means mounted in the casing and actuatedby the disc for shifting thefootplate longitudinally and means mounted in the casing and actuated by thedisc for reciprocating the sewing machine mechanism, a shaft mounted in said casing, a cam member mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said cam member from said vertically movable pivoted arm, and including a disk coupled with the cam member and having a cam shaped peripheral groove, a pairof ratchet wheels carried by the shaft, a'pivoted pawl operated by the cam shapedperipheral groove, a pair of dogs 7 carried by said pivoted pawl and adapted to alternately engage said ratchet wheels by pivotal movement of the pawl, a second cam for determining the engagement of said dogs with their respective ratchet member, a work engaging and shifting foot mounted for rec'iprocation in the casing, and means for oper ating said work engaging and shifting foot from one of said ratchet members. A

In testimony RAYMOND 0. DAVID.

whereof I afliX my signature.

foot plate laterally and comprising a lateral- 1y shiftable supporting plate for'the foot plate mounted on the casing, a lever pivotally connected, at one end, to the casing and'having its free end disposed in the cam groove of the disc for oscillation thereby and a resilient rod rigidly mounted on the leveradjacent its pivoted end for movement therewith, said rod engaging-the supporting plate ina manner to reciprocate same laterally on the casing. I t

6. A sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a casing, a foot plate mounted on the casing comprising a bodyportion having a bifurcated forward end and pairs of rows of fabric engaging teeth mounted on the furcations the outer side of each of said teeth extending at a right angle to the foot plate and the other side thereof being inclined, said fabric gripping teeth having pointed free ends.

7. A buttonhole sewing attachment for j sewing machines comprising a casing, a vertically moving arm pivotally mounted in said 7 casing and connected to a moving part of the 

